Search efforts lead to recovery of missing car with dog inside

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PORTLAND, Ore. -- A Portland pet owner who needed help finding her car because her dog was locked inside can rest a little easier now.

Searchers had been looking for the car of Yvonne Simmons, who couldn't recall where she had parked her car with her Golden Retriever, named Charlito, locked inside of it. However, searchers found the dog alive Saturday.

Simmons said her memory problems have left her unable to remember where she parked. She thought she parked her black Honda Accord in the Safeway parking lot Thursday on Northeast Broadway. However, friends said Safeway officials checked the store's surveillance video and it showed her walking into the store from a side entrance. Searchers eventually found the car with the dog inside about three blocks away from the Safeway.

Simmons' memory loss is severe and she does not have any photos of the dog, and she was worried it hasn't had any food or water in more than 36 hours.

Simmons said she remembered taking her dog to Irving Park, which is within walking distance of that Safeway, on Thursday morning. Friends and neighbors had been helping Simmons search the area since Thursday.